OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 82A ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 July 18, 2006 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid - Bits - Part 82 A by Darlene E. Kelley notes by S. Kelly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid-Bits - Part 82.A My Favorite Person Charles Whittlesey Charles Whittlesey was born on October 4, 1808, in Southington, Connecticut. Ke graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and served in the United States Army during the Black Hawk War. Shortly after this conflict's end, Whittlesey resigbed his commission and studied law, becoming an attorney at Cleveland,Ohio during the 1830's. He also served as an editor of the Cleveland Herald, during 1836 and 1837. While at West Point, Charles Whittlesey extensively studied geology. Because of is training he became in 1837 an assistant geologist of Ohio and participated in the geological survey of the State conducted in the late 1830's. During this survey, he discovered numerous Native American earthworks. The people who constructed these earthworks became known as the Whittlesey Focus, in honor of the man who discovered the physical remains of their civilization. Whittlesey spent the next several decades continuing his geological work for the federal and state governments, as well for private businesses. During the American Civil War, he immediately enlisted in the Union Army.His unit escorted President-elect Abraham Lincoln from his home in Illinois to Washington, D.C. In April 1861, Whittlesey became the assistant quartermaster-general for Ohio troops. He also participated in the western Viginia campaign, and helped design the defenses of Cincinnati, becoming a Colonel in the 20th Ohio Infantry. he participated in the Battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh. Ill health caused him to resign from the military in April 1862. Upon resigning his commission he returned to his geological studies. In 1887 he helped to establish the Western Reserve Historical Society and served as this organiztion's President until his death on October 18, 1886. Charles Whittlesey authored approximately two hundred books and articles on geology and Ohio's early history. He died at his home which was located on Euclid amongst the beautiful homes of his friends. He loved to camp out in the tent that was improvised as his military tents i in his own backyard. He received many friends and visitors while within his military tents, including myself, who visited as frequently as possible to listen to his wonderful tales of his explorations. I could stay for hours on end, however, made my time as short as possible, so as not to tire him out in his ailing days. He seemed to enjoy the visits however, and would continue his tales as long as anyone would listen. It was his housekeeper who would end the visits. Then I would be escorted out along the side of the house, where his beautiful gardens were displayed. At the front of his home was a large Limestone rock, which I presume came from Kelleys Island, as he had told me once that it was a present from his dear friend down the street. The Kelley's owned a fine house on Euclid and 19th streets. His memory was sharp and clear at the end, and he loved to tell his tales. The children to loved him as he always proved his point to them in a way they could understand. His death was easy as he just dozed off as though he was day dreaming of the days of the past. His funeral was well attended and I was one to be there also. My friend will always be in my memory, and I shall forevermore be greatful for factual stories given me to remember and repeat to my friends. You too, can read some of these stories and find them substantiated in the Western Reserve Historical Society along with many artifacts of his geological studies. He left to all, the legency of his life. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Discoveries at Rocky River Events point to two expeditions engaged in the Pontiac War, were wrecked on lake Erie. One in the Autumn of the year 1768, and the other about the same period in the year following, are well established historic facts. Since the first settlement of the township of Rockport, the attention of observing individuals has been awakened by the frequent discoveries of vestiges of military implements, and other articles, not usually scattered at random in a new and uncultivated country. These discoveries were made at two localities. The first was in the vicinity of the junction of Rocky River with Lake Erie, embracing the sandy beach bordering the lake, and the right bank of the river, and the high bluff now known as Tisdale Point, which is an extention of the left bank into the lake, and has a perpendicular rocy face, seventy feet high, on its lake front. The second; McMahon's beach, which borders the lake, under a high clay bank fronting the farms of Messrs. Brown, McMahon, Col. Merwin, and the eastward from the last named farm, by the reisdence of Frederick Wright, John Williams, and Fletcher's Hotel, to the present crossing of Rocky River onthe plank road bridge. The first locality is seven miles from Cleveland and the second is about eight to ten miles west of Cleveland. A careful examination of the discoveries, in the connection with the historical items furnished by authorities, leads to the conclusion that the catastrophe which befell the Wilkins' expedition, happened at the first locality, and that of Bradstreet's at the second locality mentioned. The correctness of this conclusion was confirmed by an examination of the pecular and dangerous areas of these localities during a storm, and the manner in which these vestages must have been lost, and a closer comprehension of the terrifying scenes that must have taken place. In an address made by Gov. Cass before the Historical Society of Michigan in the year 1834, though laborng under some important errors in regards to the wrecking of Bradstreet's expedition, gave a full context of the horrors of that catastrophe. Few of the present generation know of either of these events, and fewer are aware of the pecuniary loss and offering they involved. The Wilkins Exedition Pontiac, with hostal tribes of savages, captured most of the British Forts in the west, and murdered their garrisons, in the spring of 1763. the posts at Detroit and Fort Pitt, sucessfully resisted his first attacks. A vigorous seige was carried on against them by the savages, during the summer folowing. While troops were collecting under Col. Boquet for the relief of Fort Pitt, a flotilla of batteaux from Albany ascended the Mohawk River, by portages and reached Wood Creek, and untimately, Fort Schlosser, or Niagra river, above the falls.In te autumn of that year, six hundred regulars, with arms, military stores, and a train of artillery embarked under command of Major Wilkins. They attempted to ascend the river, and advance to Detroit. After some delay and loss, from attacks of the Seneca Indians, they reached Lake Erie, but on the 7th of November, were driven on shore by a violent storm, lost twenty boats, with fifty barrels of provisions, some field pieces, and all of their ammunition. Seventy men and three officers, including their surgeon, were drowned. These officers were Lieut. Davidson, of the train, Lieut. Paynter, and Dr. Willaims, of the 80th regiment, and also a French pilot. After the storm abated a council of war was held, and decided that the survivors should return to Niagara, where they untimately arrived. Here again the exact locality of Wilkins disaster has hitherto been a matter of uncertainty. Some person suppose it was on the north shore of the lake. The evidences to sustain this conclusion are the following; A published " Diary of the Seige of Detroit," kept by a private soldier in the garrison at that place, states as follows; " Nov 18, 1763, " This morning two Indians arrived from Point-aux-Pins, with a letter, one half wrote in Erse, and the other in English, from Major Montcrieffe, giving an account of the batteaux being cast away on the 7th instant, at the highlands, beyond the said point. " Sir Wm. Johnson, in a letter to the Lords of Trade, locates the disaster at ninty miles from Detroit, and Lieut. Gov. Colden, in a letter to the sme board, fixes it at two thirds of their way to Detroit. " If Point-aux-Pins could be designated, the question would be at once determined at the time of the writing of the diary, no locality on the shores of lake Erie has been designated by that name. Such is the inference, from on the Lewis Evans' map of the Middle Colonies, published in London, dated June 23rd, 1755, eight years before the wrecking of this expedition, no locality is distinguished along the lake as " Point-aux-Pins." It is true that a recent map in Bell's History of Canada, has that name affixed to a headland in Kent District, on the north shore of Lake Erie, but it is evidently of modern application. It is equally true that for ages a simular point, covered with a tall pine and spruce trees, has been and is still a prominent object for observation, jutting into the Lake some twenty rods east of the mouth of Rocky River. Such evergreen headlands are favorite land marks for the voyagers of these western waters, who have never been blessed with the knowlege of charts and surveys. They are in the practice of using " the point of Pines" as a comon term, applicable to evergreen were equally likely to use it in reference to either of those two ponts. The distance from Detroit specified by Sir William Johnson and Gov. Colden, are in favor of Rocky River, and the fact that the Indians carrying Montcrieffe's dispatch from " Point-aux-Pins" to the commander at Detroit occupied eleven days in its transmission, could have meant Point of Pines., and renders it certain that their route must have been along the south shore of the Lake, among hostile tribes, and could have only pursued stealhily, at night. The north shore, where the population were not hostile, coul have traveled over by Indian Expresses in two days. The presence here are numerous vestages of military impliments, and their absence from the Canadian locality, is almost positive evidence in favor of the former. A trivial link, sometimes, is found to connect fragments, so as to form a strong chain of circumstantial evidence and render it as certain as the most positive. Such a link, that was found was a blade of a surgeon's amputating knife, could have belonged to no other person than the unfortunate Dr. Willaims of the 80th British regulars. By aid of the facts furnished by historians, an intimate knowledge of the locality, and the character of the autumnal storms, taken in connection with the discoveries, any, one can figure to himself the succcession of the tragic scenes as they occurred, without requiring much play of imagination. Maj. Moncrieffe reported in the Newport, Rhode Island Mercury of December 19th, 1763, that " at 11 o'clock at night they were taken by a violent storm, which came suddenly ," ---- The whole detachment wasin danger of being lost, as every batteaux that reached shore was more than half full of water. When this happeed they doubtless attempted to gain a safe harbor with the mouth of Rocky River. The channel is narrow, and lies immediately in contact with the high and perpendicular cliff forming the terminus of the left bank. The eastern margin of the channel is bounded by a hidden sandbar, covered with a few feet of water, extending at right angles into the Lake a number of rods. During a storm the waves sweep over this bar with tremendous force, breaking some sixty to eighty feet in height, against the cliff. A boat, to enter the river at such times, must hug the cliff, amidst the surf, in order to avoid this concealed bar. An inexperienced pilot would, however, give that surf a wide berth, and , as a consequence, would be stranded on the bar. This, no doubt, was the fate of several of the batteaux; others were probably driven high and dry, on the sandy and marshy beach east of the bar, if they were not at once sunk in the changeable and engulphing quicksnds, would soon be dashed in fragments by the force of the waves. The batteaux were built of light materials, to fit them for two extensive portages, over which they passed, between the Huson River and Lake Erie. the capacity of each was adapted to the carrying of one hundred men, arms, ammunition, stores, and a small cannon, which was placed on each bow. Such a craft was illy adapted to resist the forces here acting upon it. the crews of the boats which gained the harbor no doubt sought a landing place. It was not afforded in those days by the eastern or right bank of the river, which then consisted of a marshy tract of bottom land, or of precipitous cliffs; and the left bank was of a simular character, except just within the point, where a gully of lower inclination, running from the margine to the level of the upland rendered access to the latter comparatively easy. Through this gully the survivors found a refuge from the uncomfortable lowlands, inundated and swept by the surf. Here they formed a camp fire, within a circle of boulders, and around it collected the vestages from their wrecks. They remained till the storm abated, probably three days, as that is the period usually occupied by autumnal strorms on Lake Erie. A period as long as that, is indicated by the accumulation od ashes and charcol lately disinterred. Here were probably brought the bodies of their drowned comrades, together with their arms, clothing, etc., among which were pocket-case instruments of their dead surgeon. The bayonet here found belonged to some of the soldiers, and te eroded case knife to their cuisine. The dead were probably buried on the adjacent plateau, in the native forest, now occupied by Capt. Tisdale. In due time the men were recruited, their clothing dried, and the surviving boats repaired. the ammunitionless expedition then retired down the Lake, and ultimately arrived in safety at Fort Scholosser, without having afforded any relief to the garrison at Detroit. Two miles northwesterly from the locality of this disaster, folowing the lake shore, we arrive at the long and narrow spit of land known as McMahon's beach. Undoubted evidences determined it to have been the seat of a still more destructive catastrophe, which befell. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid-bits continued in 82 B.